At just 19 years of age, Antonio Sanabria is one of the youngest members of the AS Roma tour party in Australia but the Paraguayan striker is determined to use the opportunity to demonstrate his worth to the team ahead of the coming season.
The youngster, who made his first-team debut in last season’s away win over Cagliari, sat down with asroma.it in the team’s Melbourne hotel to discuss his first visit to Australia, the new fitness regime and his emotions at seeing the hordes of Giallorossi fans who have been following the players’ every move…
Antonio, we’re halfway through the summer tour here in Australia. How are the preparations going?
“Physically, I feel good. My teammates and I are working well, just like we did in Pinzolo. We have some new fitness coaches with us and they’re introducing us to new things. During my holidays in June, I tried to keep fit so I could be in the best shape possible for pre-season.”
Photo asroma.it
Had you ever been to Australia before this trip?
“No, this is my first time. I’m happy to be in this country although it’s a very long away from Paraguay, where I grew up!”
You travelled to America with the squad last summer. What have been the main differences between the two trips?
“First of all, as a person and as a footballer, they have both been positive experiences. It’s always good to train and visit new countries. Obviously the first difference is the climate – in America last year it was around 30 degrees but it’s a lot colder here! But the facilities we’ve had access to have been truly excellent in both countries.”
We’ve seen lots of Roma fans here in Melbourne. Were you expecting there to be so many Giallorossi supporters so far from Italy?
“I really wasn’t expecting to find so many Giallorossi fans here. I think it’s a great thing and it’s important for us to know that there are lots of people following us and supporting us from far away. After training at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, we spent a while with them signing autographs and posing for photos. For me, it’s a pleasure to meet our fans. There were even a few who spoke to me in Spanish!”
Over 80,000 fans turned up for the match against Real Madrid. Did that surprise you?
“I didn’t expect there to be such a large crowd for a football match in Australia but playing against Real Madrid, one of the most famous clubs in the world, attracts a lot of people. It was a great spectacle.”
How would you rate the Giallorossi’s performance against Rafa Benitez’s side?
“I thought it was a good match and a good showing from Roma. You have to keep in mind the fact that both sides are still in the preparation phase but I think it was an entertaining contest for the people watching. We definitely played better in the first half.”
Did you speak with any of the Real players after the game?
“Yes, I swapped shirts with Jesé at the end of the match. He came up through the Madrid youth system and I crossed paths with him when I was at Barcelona.”
You have another high-profile match tonight against Manchester City. What sort of game are you expecting?
“Personally I wasn’t involved in the two Champions League matches against Manchester City last season but I played them in the UEFA Youth League with the Primavera side. City are a big club with lots of great players. Despite the fact that we’re both in the middle of the summer preparation phase, I think it’ll be another good match and we’ll do everything we can to win.”
What’s the mood like within the Roma camp?
“We’re all training hard and away from the pitch, we try to have a good time amongst ourselves. Even though it’s just a friendly, winning is always good for team spirit.”
The Australian tour is only the beginning of a long season. What are your personal objectives for the campaign ahead?
“I want to continue to establish myself within the group and earn more playing time than I did last year. If I get my head down, and with the help of my team-mates, I think I can manage it.”